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On average, there are savings of €5.50/t when buying straights in comparison with March 2019 figures.
Global cereal prices have eased substantially over the past number of months, with prices back for soya bean meal, rolled wheat, rolled barley and maize meal. Soya bean meal has continued to fall from a high of €440/t in May 2018 to €326.50/t this month.
Rolled barley was at a high of €225/t in October 2018 and has fallen to a value of €186/t this week. Similarly, rolled wheat cost €222/t in October 2018 and has also fallen to €213/t now.
Maize has made up the bulk constituent of feed rations over the past winter and it too has seen a decrease in value, with prices dropping from €186/t in October 2018 to €176.50/t today.
Eight out of 10 straights have seen a price reduction since the last survey was carried out in March 2019.
Feed prices
Our survey results show that prices for most rations have experienced reductions since our last survey in March.
Variation is still evident from region to region though, with beef nuts, for example, as high as €300/t in the northwest to as low as €270/t in the south.
As always, there are significant differences in prices between similar ration types. Larger purchasers will also have much more negotiating power when it comes to purchasing meal.
Beef finisher rations have fallen by approximately €5/t on average, while sheep rations remain relatively the same as March prices.
A 16% beef coarse ration and a 18% dairy nut were the most notable reductions, as they both had an average drop in price of €7/t.
A 16% beef coarse ration cost on average €281/t in March of this year and has come back to €274/t currently.
An 18% dairy nut cost €297/t on average in March and has dropped to €290/t now.
On the other hand, 20% ewe and lamb nut increased considerably in price by €9/t.
Cuts of up to €15/t have been quoted by certain merchants in the south of the country.
This region returned the best prices for seven out of the 12 rations surveyed.
With global cereal prices easing, this has allowed feed mills across the country to reduce their prices for the various rations.
In turn, farmers across the country can expect lower input costs this month.
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